Tiramisu Cheesecake

TIRAMISU CHEESECAKE

What's better than eating dessert? How about eating two desserts at the same time? Well, that's exactly what we're going to be doing, with my decadent recipe for Tiramisu Cheesecake.

Makes one 9-inch cake

1	cup vanilla wafers or ladyfingers (such as Savoiardi), finely ground
1	cup chocolate wafers, finely ground
¼	cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, plus more for the pan, melted
¾	cup freshly brewed espresso or strong coffee, cooled
3	packages (8-ounces each) cream cheese, room temperature
1	package (8-ounces) mascarpone cheese, room temperature
1	cup granulated sugar
1	tablespoon cornstarch
pinch	kosher salt
4	large eggs, plus 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
1	tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2	tablespoons cocoa powder, mixed with 2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar
	Fresh berries (such as strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries), for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and set aside. Mix the ground vanilla and chocolate wafers with the butter and ¼ cup of the espresso. Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake in the preheated oven until set, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the cream cheese, mascarpone, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Beat in the eggs and egg yolks one at a time. Incorporate the vanilla and remaining ½ cup of espresso.

Wrap the outside of the springform pan in foil and pour in the cheesecake filling. Place in a roasting pan and transfer to the oven. Add enough hot water to the roasting pan to come halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake at 350ºF for 50 to 60 minutes (the center of the cake will still be jiggly). Turn off the oven and allow to cool for 1 hour. Then, remove the cake and cool to room temperature before transferring it to the refrigerator to chill.

Remove the cake from the springform pan and transfer it to a serving platter. Sift the cocoa and confectioner's sugar mixture over the top of the cake and garnish with the fresh berries.